Amphibian Habitat Search

Find a habitat for amphibians!

Recommended for: Grade 3
Estimated time: 10 minutes

Amphibians need to live in a place that is cool and wet. Follow the prompts to try to find the best spot for an amphibian to live.

An eastern newt in its natural habitat

Materials Needed

  • An outdoor space
  • A pencil and paper (optional)

Takeaways

  • Be creative! Feel free to change or adapt prompts to meet your child’s needs and the available outdoor space.
  • Encourage your participant to move around like an amphibian if accessible!

Sample Prompts

Prompt One:

Most amphibians need to keep their skin moist because they use their skin to breathe. Imagine if you had to use your skin to breathe!

Prompt Two:

If it is sunny outside, invite your participant to explore a sunny area and a shady area and decide which might be better suited for an amphibian.

Prompt Three:

If it is cloudy or rainy, explain that amphibians prefer this weather to move around. Why might amphibians prefer to move when its wet?

Prompt Four:

Explore a puddle or a pond on your walk if you have access to one. Otherwise, have your participant try to figure out where a puddle would form if there was a big rainstorm.

Prompt Five:

Once you find a spot where amphibians would be comfortable, or even if you are unable to, talk to your participant about how amphibians could use these spots to lay their eggs and grow into adults.

Indoor Modification

Be creative! Pillows can become small hills, a floor lamp can become the sun, and furniture can become trees!

For Further Discovery…

Ask your participant what the important characteristics of an amphibian’s habitat are: shady and wet!